On June 18, 2026, a historic scene unfolded at a former quarry in Tuggen, Switzerland: a Develon DX225LC-7X crawler excavator was digging a trench 300 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 3 meters deep. The cab was empty, and no remote control was in sight—the excavator was working completely autonomously. Swiss construction giant KIBAG officially received the world's first unmanned autonomous excavator deployed in real-world construction, marking a historic leap for the construction machinery industry from "manned operation" to "unmanned autonomy."
From Concept-X to Real-X: A Seven-Year Journey to "Unmanned" Operation
Develon's (formerly Doosan Infracore) journey toward autonomy began in 2019. That year, the company first showcased the Concept-X system, depicting an unmanned construction scenario enabled by 5G networks, drone surveys, and autonomous machine control. In 2023, Concept-X2 further clarified the goal of "achieving full autonomy by 2030."
The real turning point came at the 2025 bauma trade fair in Germany—Develon officially launched the Real-X intelligent crawler excavator, capable of autonomously performing tasks such as trench excavation, earthmoving, and truck loading. Real-X is the result of a collaboration between HD XiteSolution (HDX, Develon's holding company) and Gravis Robotics.
Founded in October 2022, Gravis Robotics is a spin-off from ETH Zurich in Switzerland. Its core expertise lies in developing learning-based control systems that can transform conventional construction machinery into fully autonomous robots capable of executing complex tasks. It is this combination of a "top-tier academic institution and a leading manufacturer" that has given Real-X its true "brain."
Three Breakthroughs Forge the "Unmanned Excavator"
Breakthrough 1: AI-Driven Autonomous Operation System—No Cab, No Remote Control
The core of the Real-X system is a learning-based control system. It is not simply remote control or assisted driving; it enables the excavator to operate fully autonomously. At the construction site in Tuggen, Switzerland, this 22-ton DX225LC-7X excavator requires no operator—neither someone sitting in the cab nor someone holding a remote control. It autonomously completes tasks like digging and loading according to preset goals, unaffected by operator fatigue or distraction.
Breakthrough 2: 120% Productivity Leap—Efficiency Surpasses Manual Operation
According to data released by HD Hyundai XiteSolution, the unmanned autonomous excavator equipped with Real-X achieves an average productivity increase of 120% compared to manned operation. Urs Helbling, CEO of the Swiss Develon dealer, further noted that in tasks such as trench excavation, earthmoving, and truck loading, the machine can achieve a 30% performance improvement and over 100% profitability increase—a decisive advantage for the global construction industry facing a shortage of skilled workers.
Breakthrough 3: Full Electro-Hydraulic Intelligent Platform—Deep Integration of AI and Hardware
The Real-X system is mounted on Develon's new generation -9 series excavator platform, which utilizes Full Electro-Hydraulic (FEH) technology and integrates artificial intelligence for higher precision, control, and efficiency. The fusion of AI and FEH technology allows the excavator to complete each bucket load with accuracy far exceeding human operation.
Why Switzerland?—The Logic Behind the World's First "Unmanned Excavator" Deployment
KIBAG: The Forward-Looking Vision of a Century-Old Family Business
Founded in 1926, KIBAG is a leading Swiss building materials and construction company with over 2,000 employees and 2,000 pieces of construction machinery (with 200 renewed annually). Its CPO, Urs Kordeuter, explicitly stated that the choice of Develon was because Develon has advanced further in autonomous machinery than other manufacturers.
Legal "Passport" of Private Land
Currently, Switzerland has no clear regulations for autonomous construction machinery in public spaces. However, KIBAG's operation in Tuggen is on private land, monitored remotely by a technical supervisor, allowing it to operate legally within the existing legal framework. This provides an important reference for other countries exploring regulatory frameworks for autonomous construction equipment.
The "Home Advantage" of ETH Zurich
Gravis Robotics is a spin-off from ETH Zurich. The first real-world deployment of Real-X in Switzerland is, in a sense, a "homecoming"—world-class robotics research achievements have been industrialized for the first time at their place of origin.
From "Unmanned Excavator" to "Unmanned Construction Site"
The Ultimate Solution to the "Labor Shortage"
The global construction industry is facing a severe crisis of skilled worker shortages. Real-X's 30% performance improvement and over 100% profitability increase mean contractors can accomplish more work with fewer personnel.
"Zero-Risk" Operations in Hazardous Environments
In dangerous environments such as collapses, landslides, or toxic gas leaks, unmanned autonomous machinery can completely replace manual labor. The Tuggen project itself involves repairing the toe of a slope at risk of landslide, an ideal application scenario for autonomous machinery.
24/7 Continuous Operation
Unaffected by fatigue or distraction, unmanned autonomous machinery can theoretically operate continuously for 24 hours, significantly shortening project timelines.
The Ultimate Blueprint for the "Unmanned Construction Site"
From the "unmanned construction site" envisioned by Concept-X in 2019 to the first real-world deployment of Real-X in Switzerland in 2026, Develon is steadily turning the "unmanned construction site" from a vision into reality. Kim Pan-young, Executive Vice President of HD Hyundai XiteSolution, stated: "This project is the first step in bringing unmanned autonomous construction equipment technology to actual field sites. It will serve as a turning point for enhancing construction safety and productivity, accelerating the future of the global construction machinery industry."